Oakleigh Girl went into the Calaway Gal Stakes as an odds-on favourite and survived a scare from debutant Ambitious Blonde to record the second victory of her racing career after winning the Group 3 7News Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

Trainer Danny Bougoure admitted earlier in the week that Oakleigh Girl was heading into the race underdone and he expects that she will have taken plenty of benefit out of the run heading into the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on January 11.

“She put a bit of a scare into the camp, but she’s very tenacious and has a never say die attitude,” Bougoure said after the race.

“She was a bit fresh today and a bit on the big side.

“Going to 1200m next time will tighten her up for the Magic Millions.”

Craig Newitt has been booked to ride Oakleigh Girl in the Magic Millions and he believes that the daughter of Snitzel is still the horse to beat in the $2 million event, despite admitting that she looked as though she was struggling at times on Saturday.

”I was very happy; she got the job done,” Newitt told Fairfax.

“She went into the race underdone because he hadn’t trialled her.

“She was always going to be well underdone and whatever she did she was going to take great improvement from.

”She actually didn’t look all that comfortable that way, which was surprising.

“She looked like she was lugging out a bit but she got attacked pretty much the whole way and her class shone through late.”

Ambitious Blonde is also on a path towards the Magic Millions and is into a quote of $15 after being available at long odds to even qualify for the race before her impressive performance on debut in the Calaway Gal Stakes.

Jockey Ryan Wiggins said after the race that he believes that the daughter of Falvelon will be even better when stepped up to 1200 metres and is confident that the two-year-old can turn-the-tables on Oakleigh Girl in the prestigious event.

“Over six furlongs next start I will dead-set have the winner cold,” Wiggins said.

“She wasn’t going anywhere under the stick and when I put it away she came again in the last 50m.

“She’s a serious racehorse.”

The updated 2013 Magic Millions betting market can be found at Ladbrokes.com.au with Echo Gal a narrow favourite from Oakleigh Girl.

Sign-up and deposit at the leading online bookie to take advantage of these early odds and receive a free bet worth up to $250 that can be used to back any horse in the event.

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